ORIENT – A Pickaway Corrections officer appeared in the Pickaway County Municipal Court Friday for attempting to convey illegal narcotics into the Pickaway Correctional Institution after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrested him.

Troopers charged Larry Vannorsdall, 43, of Mount Sterling, with conveying illegal narcotics onto the grounds of a correctional facility and possession of illegal narcotics, both third-degree felonies.

Troopers and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigators obtained information that Vannorsdall planned to convey illegal drugs into the Pickaway Correctional Institution. Troopers arrested Vannorsdall at 6:25 a.m. last Friday after he received 15 pills of OxyContin and 500 dollars from an undercover officer.

Vannorsdall was incarcerated at the Pickaway County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and leased property.

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